Twitch:
The game on our agenda today is RLH – which stands
for Run Like Heck and run like heck you will in this exciting….

Spaz:
Wait a minute, RLH doesn’t stand for Run Like Heck,
the real title is Run Like…

Twitch:
Shut your mouth! Randy said we couldn’t say H, E, double hockey
sticks! Do you want to get us banned for another year?

Spaz:
Well can we call Randy an asshole for not letting us say H, E, double
hockey sticks?

Twitch:
No, you can’t call him an asshole!

Spaz:
Well, can I think that he’s an asshole?

Twitch:
Dude, you can think anything you want.

Spaz:
Okay, well then I think he’s an asshole for not letting us say
H, E, double hockey sticks.

Twitch:
Dude you’re an idiot, we’re going to end up reviewing
Olsen Twins games for Gamespot again if Randy reads this.

Spaz:
Oooh, I’m so scared.

Twitch:
That’s enough, I’m taking charge. RLH is an exciting
game set in a space station that has been taken over by hostile aliens.
After an initial set-up that allows the player to become familiar
with the outlay of the space station, your character Nick Conner and
his partner are sent on a mission only to return to a station besieged
by an alien race that has slaughtered almost everyone aboard. The
cinematic of Nick’s return to the station and his initial encounter
with one of the aliens is one of the most disturbing images that I’ve
ever seen in a game, but it does set the tone for much of what follows.

And
what follows are some interesting puzzles and gobs of action as Nick
searches for his wife Samantha and the reason behind the invasion.
Most exciting of all though are the times when Nick has to literally
run for his life to escape his pursuers. It’s a breathless race
for life as you race through winding corridors to reach a safe area.
Your pulse actually quickens as you barely stay out of reach of your
pursuers. And if the chases aren’t enough to get your blood
boiling, there are a few truly scary moments that will leave you edgy
as aliens make unexpected appearances.

Many of the puzzles are
your standard find the key code to open a locked door, but there are
a few nifty stumpers worthy of any adventure game. In particular is
a real teaser in which you must figure out a way to lure an invincible
alien into a Gravitational Room. It literally took us at least ten
attempts before we were able to figure out the all too obvious solution.

The in-game cinematics
do a great job of advancing the storyline and the developers should
be credited for never letting the game degenerate into a mindless
shooter. Instead, there is a purposeful B-movie feel that is heightened
by the inclusion of excellent voice actors like Lance Henriksen, Kate
Mulgrew and Brad Dourif. Much of the reason why RLH succeeds
is that it never loses the claustrophobic feel of being trapped aboard
a doomed space station.

Of
course any action/adventure game is dependant on its arsenal and RLH
features the standard supply of shotguns, rifles and stunners, but
a nice touch are mod chips that allow Nick to increase the clip size
or burst of his weapon. Auto-mapping helps guide you around the ship,
though before long you will remember its layout through necessity
and each chapter – there are seven total – is broken into
small segments with well-defined goals so the player never feels overwhelmed
or unsure on what course of action to take next.

Spaz:
My favorite part of the game are the vending machines scattered about
the space station that distribute a real drink named Bawls.
Drinking Bawls supplies Nick with instant energy and also what is
now my favorite tag-line from a video game: Grab your Bawls and Run
Like Hell.

Twitch:
Somehow I knew that would appeal to you.

Spaz:
I’m just wondering though, would you rather I Grab your Bawls
and Run Like Hell or Grab My Bawls and Run Like Hell?

Twitch:
You’re incorrigible.

Final Grade: B